Legislators to convene for 5 straight days in bid to wrap up business

Opening day of the legislative session in the Assembly chamber of the Capitol in Albany, NY on January 10, 2011. ( Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

Opening day of the legislative session in the Assembly chamber of the Capitol in Albany, NY on January 10, 2011. ( Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

Photo: Philip Kamrass

Five days of crunch time

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ALBANY -- It's crunch week at the Capitol, with legislators convening for a rare five consecutive days as they attempt to settle their business for this year.

"We have a lot riding on this week, and the first day or two of the next," said Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari, D-Cohoes. The legislative session is scheduled to conclude June 20.

On Monday, both the Senate and Assembly are expected to pass a bill restructuring government ethics by creating a new enforcement body and requiring lawmakers to disclose their outside earnings, legislative officials said. The bill was announced two weeks ago by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who has made "cleaning up Albany" a major political priority.

But Cuomo's other legislative priorities -- legalizing same-sex marriage and capping local property tax increases -- are not settled. While the governor corralled legislative leaders last month to announce an agreement on the tax cap, its fate is tied to still-unsettled legislation to renew rent controls on New York City apartments. No agreement has been reached on the latter, which lawmakers say will remain in effect as long as the tax cap.

And while its Senate passage remains uncertain, Republicans who hold that chamber's majority will privately discuss the same-sex marriage bill in a closed door conference, a spokesman said.

"It'll be a conference decision how we handle it," said Scott Reif, a spokesman for the Senate Republican. He reiterated Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a Long Island Republican, opposes the bill.

Other Republicans are undecided, including Sen. Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga. They have been the subject of intense lobbying from Cuomo, gay rights advocates as well as business leaders and labor unions. Leaders of the Conservative Party and religious organizations including the Catholic Church have lobbied against the bill, arguing it redefines a union traditionally between a man and a woman.

Canestrari said he was confident the bill would pass the Assembly, but even its proponents in that chamber acknowledge the vote will be closer than in 2007 and 2009 because of the defeats last year of some yes votes.

And according to Michael Whyland, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, members of that chamber won't take up the bill until the Senate does.

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"The governor has asked for us to wait until he secures the votes in the Senate and we are hopeful that he is successful," he said.

While only 26 senators have publicly affirmed their support for the bill, a halfdozen short of the 32 needed, gay rights advocates are optimistic.

"We continue to think the environment is strong," said Ross Levi, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda. "I do think there is a great sense of momentum that has built toward this very opportune time."

Same-sex marriage advocates were scheduled to meet Monday with Skelos, but their meeting has been postponed. Cuomo will meet again with McDonald this week; the pair met privately two weeks ago and discussed the marriage bill.

Libous said the tax cap and rent issues are "obviously important issues," but they remain unsettled.

Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto said "the governor is working collaboratively with both houses to move forward and pass these key agenda items."

Cuomo and Silver are pushing to tighten existing rent control, but Skelos is reluctant. He hopes to simply extend the existing laws, which allow apartments to become deregulated if the monthly rent rises above $2,000.

As negotiations over these topics continue, Libous said the Senate was planning to act on over 100 bills each day this week. He said this year is on track to be one of the most productive legislative sessions he's participated in.

And Dick Dadey, a longtime lobbyist and executive director of Citizens Union, said issues often mash together over late nights in a session's waning days.

"We may be back to the old game," he said. "In typical Albany fashion, separate issues that have nothing to do with one another may come together in one mega deal -- property tax caps, rent regulations, possibly marriage equality. We haven't seen something like this in the last few years."